Heel and arch cushion and support



June 7, 193s. M. M. FARLEY 2,119,807

HEEL AND ARCH CUSHION AND SUP'PORT Original Eiled Jan. 7, 1936 y fl/fill@ Inventor A llomeysf Patented June 7, 1938 UNITED STATES PATENT oFFicE l HEEL AND ARCH clriolm AND SUPPORT y Application January 7, 1936, ySerial No. 57,999 Renewed December 9, 1937 3 Claims.

This invention relates to improvements in foot braces that are commonly known as arch supports and cushions.

The present invention consists in the provision of a support for the arch and heel that may be easily inserted or removed from the shoe and which will tend to cushion the foot against shocks normally incident to walking and to effect a massaging of the foot at the arch and heel thereof in a manner tending to strengthen the muscles of the legs and the feet.

The invention together with its utility, and advantages will be best understood from a study of the following description taken in connection with the accompanying drawing wherein:

Figure 1 is a top plan view of the support and cushion.

Figure 2 is a bottom plan view thereof.

Figure 3 is a longitudinal sectional through the support and cushion.

Figure 4 is a transverse sectional View taken substantially on the line 4--4 of Figure 1, and

Figure 5 is a transverse sectional View taken substantially on the line 5-5 of Figure 1.

Referring to the drawing by reference numerals it .will be seen that the invention comprises a main body 5 of latex, sponge rubber or other sufficiently yieldable material and which is cut, shaped and dimensioned to conform to the shape of the foot, and to extend from a point beginning at the forward end of the metatarsal bones and continuing back to the heel of the foot.

Formed integral with the body 5 is an upstanding flange 6, in the form of a counter to act as a support for the heel at the sides and back of the latter.

'Ihe arch portion of the body 5 is provided with an enlargement 'I projecting upwardly from the top surface of the body 5 and tapering in all directions as will be clear from a study of Figures 3 and 5.

At what may be termed the metatarsal end thereof the body 5 has a feathered edge as indicated at 8.

The portion of the body 5 which rests under the metatarsal bones of the foot is also substantially wedge shaped in cross section as shown in Figure 4 having its top surface inclined as shown.

Covering 9 is mounted on the upper surface of the body 5. This covering 9 is formed from leather or other suitable flexible material which, while permitting the arch support to assume under pressure the shape desired, will also serve to resist Wear.

The body 5 and cover 9 are also apertured so View (Cl. Sti-'71) as to provide air pasages l extending therethrough from the bottom to the top of the support.

Secured to the under side of the body at the forward edge thereof and positioned substantially centrally between the side edges of the arch support is a pad Il also formed preferably of the same material as the body 5. The pad Il is of the edge contour shown and tapers longitudinally having its thickest end at the widest part of the pad as is clear from a study of Figure 3. In transverse section the pad is somewhat oval as shown in Figure 4 having its top and bottom surfaces convexed and sloping in reverse direction toward the respective opposite edges of the pad.

The pad Il is provided to exert additional pressure and present additional support centrally of the ball of the foot so as to relieve the wearer of pain resulting at this point.

In actual practice the arch support is positioned in the shoe with the body faced downwardly so that the foot will engage the leather covering 9. In practice the arch support will support and cushion the arch and heel portion of the foot.

Having thus described the invention, what is claimed as new is:

1. In a heel and arch support, a main cushioning body having a counter integral with the heel portion of the body and extending forwardly to the 'forward edge of the arch portion of the body, said body having an enlargement projecting upwardly from the top surface thereof and vtapering in thickness in all directions, and said body at the forward edge of the arch portion thereof being substantially wedge shaped in cross section and also substantially wedge-shaped in longitudinal section, and a pad secured to the underl surface of the main cushioning body and formed of the same material as said body; said pad being disposed substantially centrally between the side edges of the main cushioning body and having an end edge projecting beyond the forward edge of said body, said pad further being substantially wedge-shaped in longitudinal section with its smaller end extended inwardly under the wedgeshaped body.

2. In a heeland arch support, a main cushioning body having a counter integral with the heel portion of the body and extending forwardly to the forward edge of the arch portion of the body, said body having an enlargement projecting upwardly from the top surface thereof and tapering in thickness in all directions, and said body at the forward edge of the arch portion thereof being substantially Wedge shaped in cross section, and a pad secured to the under surface of the main cushioning body and formed of the same material as said body; said pad being disposed substantially centrally between the side edges of the main cushioning body and having an end edge projecting beyond the forward edge of said body, said pad tapering longitudinally and having its thickened portion at its projecting end edge, and said pad also having top and bottom surfaces substantially convexed in cross section.

3. In a heel and arch support, a main cushioning body having a counter integral with the heel portion of the body and extending forwardly to the forward edge of the arch portion of the body, said body having an enlargement projecting upwardly from the top surface thereof and tapering in thickness in all directions, and said body at the forward edge of the arch portion thereof being substantially wedge shaped in cross section, and a pad secured to the under surface of the main cushioning body and formed of the same material as said body; said pad being disposed substantially centrally between the side edges of the main cushioning body and having an end edge projecting beyond the forward edge of said body, said pad tapering longitudinally and having its thickened portion at its projecting end edge, and said pad also having top and bottom surfaces substantially convexed in cross section, and a wear covering of exible material secured to the top side of said main cushioning body.

MYRON M. FARLEY. 

